“The regrettable truth is, it’s not just that.
As early as when we first entered Asdana, we were already affected by the Stellaron. Looking back, the unfamiliar dreamscape where you and I met was perhaps a premonition of our thoughts beginning to drift,” Himeko added.
“All of this is a dream?” Stelle was even more confused now. At this moment, she felt how wonderful it was not to have to think.
“I believe order’s goal isn’t to put everyone into The meme.
On the contrary, he used the Stellaron to catalyze Asdana’s dream-stuff, allowing it to permeate the material world, merging dreams and reality.” Himeko corrected her, but Stelle seemed to understand something and immediately asked,
“You mean that most of the things I dreamed about—I actually experienced in reality?”
Black Swan nodded, confirming it.
And Himeko continued to add,
“Among these, quite a few memories from the Aetherium Chorus must have also seeped in.
Over a long period, dreams became indistinguishable from reality, and reality also began to show illusions. People believed they were living consciously, but their minds had long since entered order’s hall.”
Black Swan also sighed at this moment,
“This is precisely the terrifying aspect of the Taiyi Dream.”
But Stelle immediately called a halt,
“Stop, what you’ve said is enough. I roughly understand our current situation. If you keep going, I really won’t be able to comprehend it.”
Seeing this, Himeko and Black Swan both silently closed their mouths.
At this moment, Stelle seemed to have thought of something and asked,
“We should still have a chance now, right? What about the others? It can’t just be the three of us, can it?”
Upon hearing this, Himeko looked at Black Swan.
“Yes, we do still have a chance to turn the tide. Miss Black Swan, please take us to meet those who are equally strong.”
Black Swan nodded, stating matter-of-factly,
“Alright, both of you follow me.”
Along the way, Stelle saw many people immersed in the beauty of the Taiyi Dream.
Most of them had no light in their eyes, only immense ecstasy.
This gave Stelle goosebumps. After trying the Clockwork trick on a few more people and finding it useless, she gave up.
She continued to follow Black Swan to find the others.
Upon arriving at the hotel lobby, even more people were in The meme here.
But the first conscious person Stelle saw was actually Robin.
When Robin saw the three approaching, her serious expression visibly relaxed slightly.
“Finally, you’ve arrived.”
Himeko then suggested to Stelle,
“Talk to Miss Robin.
She is someone who woke up from the Taiyi Dream purely by her own will. And it is this strong lady who tirelessly led us here with her singing.”
Stelle nodded, and Robin said earnestly,
“The reason I was able to wake up is the same as yours. In the dream, I experienced things that would never happen in reality…”
Robin was in The meme for a moment, then finally sighed, speaking with a hint of helplessness,
“Such a sweet illusion made me consciously realize it was nothing more than a dream.
This is our last hope. The Taiyi Dream is built upon the Aetherium Chorus—the embodiment of shared desires.
Only when the wishes of all beings in Penacony unite can it manifest.”
Then, Robin looked at the surrounding crowd in The meme, greatly distressed,
“Now, it has become indestructible because of people’s desire to remain in The meme. If we are to destroy it—we must make everyone in Penacony want to wake up from the dream.”
Black Swan also asked seriously,
“But the question is, how do we do that?”
Stelle shook her head with a serious expression, “I don’t know. How about we just go back to the Taiyi Dream?”
Himeko spoke at this moment,
“It’s not time to give up yet.”
At this moment, another voice came.
“We can’t give up now. No matter what happens, we cannot stand idly by.”
Stelle turned her head to look, and after recognizing that the newcomers were Dan Heng and Boot Hill, her serious expression also relaxed a little.
Thus, everyone began discussing the next course of action.
Stelle looked at Dan Heng, asking with some hope,
“Have you two also woken up from the dream?”
Dan Heng nodded, looking at Black Swan.
“This time, it’s all thanks to Miss Black Swan.”
Black Swan’s lips curved into a smile, slightly proud but elegantly humble, “It was nothing. It’s also thanks to the other Memokeepers of Penacony. Your three companions should have all woken up from their respective dreams.”
Stelle then caught a loophole in Black Swan’s words and asked with some confusion,
“Why three? What about the other one? Who hasn’t woken up yet?”
Dan Heng also frowned slightly, looking at Black Swan very seriously, awaiting her answer.
Black Swan thought for a moment and decided to answer truthfully.
“I didn’t find Mr. Jiang Lin in the dream and cannot confirm his current state.”
Himeko pondered for a moment and concluded,
“Didn’t find him? Does this mean he wasn’t affected at all, or he woke up early?”
But Boot Hill said something that dampened the mood.
“Or maybe he’s just gone?”
Dan Heng immediately denied it,
“Impossible. I believe in his strength. He wouldn’t get into trouble so easily.”
“Alright, I take it back.”
Himeko sighed slightly and continued,
“Regardless, our top priority is to find a way to deal with the Taiyi Dream and Sunday. Once everything calms down, what should appear will naturally appear.”
Everyone nodded and fell into contemplation.
A moment later, Stelle was the first to ask,
“So, what do we do next?”
Himeko thought for a moment and offered her idea.
“Now we have taken the first step of our plan. With the help of the Memokeepers, people strong enough, like yourselves, will gradually awaken from the dream.
The awakened free wills will become the discordant notes that shake the Taiyi Dream.”
As she spoke, everyone present turned their gaze to her.
Dan Heng also took the initiative to raise a question and his own opinion at this time,
“But a mere few dozen people are like a drop in the ocean in the face of such a vast dream.
We must find other ways to awaken hundreds of thousands, even millions, of free wills in a short amount of time.”
Himeko agreed with Dan Heng’s statement, then looked at everyone and slowly voiced her thoughts,
“If it’s difficult to break through from within, then seek help from outside. We’ve known there’s a way for a long time.
Asdana is a star system rich in dream-stuff, where a peculiar phenomenon called the ‘Concord Dream’ exists.
Upon first entering this place, many people would appear in each other’s thoughts, sharing the same dream. And at this very moment, the Asdana Star System only has one dream.”
At this, everyone understood Himeko’s idea.
Dan Heng even made the decision directly,
“It’s time to use the Covenant Jade.”